1907 100 years ago
The Gazette reported on some of the amusing events in the local area over the Christmas period.
An article read: "Now that Christmas 1906 is a thing of the past many are the anecdotes which are recounted of the merry season.
A goodly number emanate from the Post Office.
One postmaster, in investigating a goose, the outside label of which had become detached, noticed that it was particularly plump, and on looking inside discovered that it was stuffed with a bottle of whisky. Certainly a seasonable stuffing!
"The true colour, and more than a colour of gold had been imparted to an innocent-looking pound of butter which had drifted apart from its address label.
It was eventually sold to a postman, and the lucky man found that the 'leaden casket concealed the gem' as he discovered that a half sovereign had been imbedded in the butter by the consignee. And the lucky finder paid 9d all told for the butter. Truly a veritable gold mine."
At the 'kind invitation of Mr and Mrs J R Drake, through Mr A C Owen, the butler, between 70 and 80 were present at the servants' ball held at Gadebridge Park on Thursday.
A report read: "The guests included several local tradespeople and the head servants from gentlemen's houses in the district.
Dancing continued until 4am."
1957 50 years ago
A passion for horses led a Hemel Hempstead girl into crime, according to this week's Gazette.
A 19-year-old Hemel Hempstead girl appeared at Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions this week where she admitted stealing lead and copper to the value of nearly £400. The money she received for the metal was used to buy and feed horses.
The Gazette reported: "She pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the storehouse of JC Spooner and Sons in Adeyfield and stealing lead and copper tubing and also broke into the same firm's premises the following week."
The counsel for the prosecution said the proceedings arose from the vigilance and observations of a police constable, who noticed the girl's car in Adeyfield and thought it looked very low at the back.
On searching the vehicle he found that the car was laden with 10 cwt, of lead.
In a statement the girl said she had sold the lead to a man she knew only as Tommy and another whose name she did not know.
The statement added: "She had met them in the Busy Bee Cafe on the Watford by-pass. Tommy had asked her if she wanted to buy a horse.
She said no because she had no money. But she gave the man her phone number and he subsequently phoned her and they met at Boxmoor Station where her horses were tethered."
The girl was described as having a bad school record and was given probation for three years.
A report on a fancy dress party in Hemel Hempstead this week noted that television appeared to be becoming more popular.
It read: "Television seems to be creeping more and more into the daily life of modern children. At a children's party at St Mary's Hall on Saturday, three out of the four winners of a fancy dress competition represented TV characters."
1982 25 years ago
Supermarket giants Tesco this week announced they were dropping a multi-million pound scheme for the Baconsthorpe site in Hemel Hempstead.
A report read: "A spokesman for the giant supermarket chain confirmed that the company was pulling out of the development of the site, just off Marlowes and Hillfield Road.
"The spokesman said: 'We will not be going ahead with this development as there are problems associated with it which we feel would be insurmountable.' "
The Gazette reported that the owner of the land, the Commission for the New Towns, said it was working on the basis that Tesco had lost interest in the Baconsthorpe development.
Hemel Hempstead manager Archie Archbold said they would probably start a marketing exercise in the future.
He added: "I don't anticipate any problem in finding someone else willing to develop Baconsthorpe, but they will have to the planners. That is a matter for the local authority."
A thief who stole packs of bandages from a firm in Bourne End was risking somebody's life without realising it, The Gazette reported this week.
An article read: "The bandages were imported unsterilised from India - and could be infected with deadly diseases. Six packets of bandages were taken when somebody smashed a barred ground-floor window at the premises of Design Storage and Handling in Bourne End Lane and snatched the various items through the bars.
Design's managing director, Malcolm Sims, warned that the thief could expose an injured person to infection and has been making his own efforts to track down the culprits.
Pupils at Adeyfield school in Hemel Hempstead were enjoying the arrival of two four-legged friends following the Christmas day delivery of a pair of calves.
The twins were born at the school farm and their mother Toffee was said to be "tickled pink".
Pupils were taking part in a naming competition for the calves, but sadly it wasn't all good news.
The Gazette reported: "As government cash cuts have reached even the cow shed, it is unlikely that the school will keep its calves."
"We would love to keep them - if Mrs Thatcher would let us," said a school spokesman.
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